• The Trump administration threatens to withhold federal funding from California, Washington, and New Mexico.
• States have 30 days to enforce English proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers.
• Failures in state enforcement were highlighted after a fatal crash involving a driver who did not speak English.
• California risks losing $33 million, Washington $10.5 million, and New Mexico $7 million in funding.
• Transportation Secretary Duffy emphasizes safety concerns and the need for effective law enforcement.

The Trump administration has warned that California, Washington, and New Mexico could face substantial cuts in federal safety funding unless they enhance enforcement of English proficiency requirements for commercial truck drivers. This ultimatum comes after a deadly crash on August 12 in Florida, involving trucker Harjinder Singh, who reportedly could not communicate effectively due to his lack of English proficiency, leading to the tragic accident that resulted in three fatalities, according to Reuters.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that the three states have 30 days to comply with the English-language mandates, or they risk losing funding from the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program. The funding cuts amount to approximately $33 million for California, $10.5 million for Washington, and $7 million for New Mexico. According to Duffy, "States don't get to pick and choose which federal safety rules to follow," underlining the urgency for these states to take action before the deadline, as reported by Newsweek and CBS News.

Investigations indicated that state officials had failed to adequately enforce English proficiency regulations, with California conducting over 34,000 inspections yet only taking one driver out of service for language issues. Washington observed similar results, with over 6,000 inspections leading to just four disqualifications, and New Mexico reportedly had no drivers taken out of service. These findings raise serious safety concerns, as Duffy noted that effective communication is critical for truck drivers operating heavy vehicles, especially during emergencies, according to Al Jazeera.

The initiative to enforce these rules, highlighted by the tragic accident involving Singh, reflects broader concerns regarding immigration and public safety. Singh, who was an undocumented immigrant, made an illegal U-turn, leading to the fatal crash. Following the incident, discussions point to significant lapses in regulatory enforcement by the states, prompting federal authorities to intervene. Governor Gavin Newsom of California criticized the Trump administration's approach, arguing that they approved Singh's work permit, thereby making the situation even more complex, as per reporting by India Times and CBS News.